Council protects Purley residents from ASB

Heavy drinking and illegal drug use by crowds of visitors has led to a three-month premises closure order for a Purley flat.

The application to close 1 Pheasant Close was brought by Croydon’s antisocial behaviour team, and granted at Camberwell Magistrates’ Court on Monday 26 March.

Director of Safety, Andy Opie, said: “I am pleased the court has granted this application as Pheasant Close residents have had to put up with continued anti-social behaviour that was having a serious impact on their quality of life.

“We will always prosecute tenants who act with such blatant disregard for their neighbours.”

L&Q housing association tenant Alain Pokok-Makizembe contested the application himself before magistrates retired to consider evidence, which included accounts from neighbours, Purley’s local police team and the council’s antisocial behaviour team.

The neighbours said they lived in fear of their safety due to the number of visitors attending the premises, allegedly drinking heavily and taking illegal drugs.

In response to the allegation of drug use in the premises, Pokok-Makizembe said he should not be held responsible for the behaviour of others, as he was not aware of the drug use.

He was reminded that, as the tenant, he was responsible for his own behaviour and that of visitors to his property.